2009 Duckhorn Vineyards Carneros Napa Valley Merlot

Influenced by the cooling effect of the Pacific Ocean, Carneros is ideally suited for growing exceptional Merlot, yielding a wine with beautiful structure, velvety texture and lovely layers of plum and mulberry.

Wine Profile

Vineyard Notes

From our first Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc blocks to our final red-varietal Estate picks, our 2009 harvest spanned more than two months. Though the 2009 growing season presented certain challenges—from early shatter to late-season rain—a thoughtful response in the vineyards yielded smaller-than-normal crops of high-quality fruit. This response included aggressive leafing, an early thinning protocol and a heavy field sort to select only the most desirable grapes.

This wine showcases why Carneros Merlot grapes have always been an important part of our Napa Valley Merlot. Despite its smooth, velvety texture, there is an intensity that speaks to our love of structured, age-worthy Merlots. In the nose and on the palate, it is dominated by lovely layers of Black Doris plum, dark cherry, cocoa powder and nougat.